Mary Zeran was born in Iowa City, Iowa in 1964. She received her B.F.A. and M.F.A. from University of Iowa. She currently lives and works in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Mary Zeran’s artwork is a celebration of rhythm, pattern, and color. Her pieces evolve over time. She paints on archival polyester film, cuts out shapes, and re-arranges them to create a final collage. Her work is spontaneous and collaborative. Working this way, gives her the chance to be responsive to the random things that happen and to tap into her internal rhythms.

Zeran has exhibited nationally and internationally in New York, Seattle, and Chang Mai, Thailand. In 2020, she had a solo exhibit at the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art as part of their 125th anniversary celebration.

Museum permanent collections include The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY, and Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, Cedar Rapids IA.

Corporate collections include Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, EMC, Des Moines, IA, First Bancorp, Southern Pines, NC, Grafix Corporate Collection; Cleveland, OH, Grant Thorton, Chicago, IL, Human Services Building, Cedar Rapids, IA, Kirkwood Community College, Cedar Rapids, IA, Newton Wellesley Hospital, Newton, MA, Raining Rose Corporate Collection, Cedar Rapids, IA, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, The Fallon Companies, Boston, MA, United Fire Group, Cedar Rapids, IA/ Los Angeles, CA.

Zeran is the recipient of numerous awards and honors. She received an Oregon College of Arts and Crafts Residency, and a 2% for the Arts Purchase Prize from the Visual Arts Commission in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Ms Zeran has exhibited nationally at galleries in New York, Seattle, and Los Angeles. Reviews include many publications including Artweek, The New Art Examiner, and The Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Her works can be found in the permanent collections of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, The University of Iowa, The University of Iowa Hospitals, St. Luke's Hospital~Cedar Rapids, Iowa, SE Iowa Community College~West Burlington, Iowa, Kirkwood Community College~Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Mary Zeran received her MFA from the University of Iowa. Originally from Burlington, Iowa, she resides in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.